Half and Half

More often than not, I think of the pictures I take in terms of what I try to capture: a beautiful landscape. My sons both smiling at the same time. A fresh-out-of-the-oven apricot tart, a moment before everyone digs in. The object determines the angle, the composition, the depth of field.

Sometimes, though, I try to empty my mind of any reference to the meaning of the things in front of me and try to focus solely on the visual plane of the photo. That’s what happened one glorious summer afternoon several years ago, when I visited Devils Tower, in Wyoming. There was rock, there was sky, and both were stunning. But I just knew that it wasn’t about them this time, it was about splitting my canvas in two:

This week, share an image that has two clear halves, literally or figuratively. You could focus on composition, like me, and take a photo with an explicit dividing line (either vertical, horizontal, or diagonal). Or take the theme in other directions: zoom in on a pair of objects that together form a whole. Show two people whose demeanor or personality complement each other. Or bring into balance two opposing visual elements — light and dark, color and its absence, sharp focus juxtaposed with blurriness.

Thanks for the variety of subjects, Ben. It’s always good to try new effects, and with this one I’ve gone wide, with my 14-24mm lens and split the horizontal horizon in the first shot, and in the second have gone for contrasting colour.